Electrical connecting device



1932' P. F. WILLIAMS 1,840,072

ELECTRICAL commune DEVICE Filed June 17, 1922 I 1. Y MAME:

' irweizzzw .flWfMWW S Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPAUL r. WILLIAMS, or CHICAGO, ILL NoIs, AssIGNoR T G. a w. ELECTRICSPECIALTY 00., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOISELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE Application flledIune 17,

My invention relates to electrical connecting devices, particularly ofthe kind known as potheads. I .7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple,practical andadvantageous device of the class specified;

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve theconnecting devices by which the conductors are electrically connectedwith one another.

In the accompanying drawings Fig.1 is an elevation of a potheadembodying my present invention; j c

Fig. 2 is a-longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3 is acrosssection-taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

In the drawings I have shown a single conductor pothead but theinvention is applicable to potheads of other styles and kinds.

Referring to the drawings, the .pothead shown comprises a tubular member15501 the cable and an upper member or cap 2 for-the overhead conductor,said members 1 and 2 being preferably made ofinsulating material such asporcelain. I

A cable 3 is shown enteringthe lower end of the lower member 1 andextending up well into said member so that the upper end of the cableconductor 4 is inserted into a socket formed in a terminal member 5.This member 5 has an extension 5awhich' has a screw threaded socketwhich receives a threaded plug 6. The latter'is provided with atransverse flange 7, the outer edge of which rests on collar 8 securedto the upper end of the tubular member 1 asbya layer 9 of cement. Theplug member 6 has a small recess 10 in its upper surface. 7

The overhead wire 11 has its conductor 12 fitted into a socket interminal 13 which is arranged in a recess 14 in cap or head 2. Terminal13 has a threaded socket 15in an extension 16 and threaded plug member17 fits into threaded socket 15. Plug 17 is provided with a lateralflange or disc 18.- A projecting member 19, preferably a'threaded screw,is attached to plug member 17 as by screwing its threaded end into athreaded socket therein. Member 19 is adapted to fit into recess 10 inmember 6. A collar 20 is fitted in an 1922. Serial No. 569,056.

enlargement'at the lower end of bore 14 of cap 2 and is secured thereinvby a layer 21 of cement 'or other similar material. This collar 20serves as an abutment for flange or disc 18 just as collar 8 serves asanabutment for. flange or disc 7. Thus when members 7 and 18 are broughttogether connection is made between terminals 13 and 5 and thisconnection is held against sidewise movement by member 19. In order toprevent opening the electrical connection above referred to and also tomake said connection firm mechanically and efiective electrically, meansare provided for drawing and holding the outside members 1 and 2together. While various arrangements could be made I show one which isvery simple and efl'ective, comprising clamping means for clamping thelower end of member 2 to the upper end of member 1. This comprises acollar 24 secured to member 2 as by cement 25,'said collar 24 having anoutwardly projecting flange 26. Member 1 is provided with a collar 27having a screw thread 28 and a clamping collar 29 fits over collar 27and is threaded correspondingly to threads 28. Member 29 is providedwith an annular flange 30 adapted to engage flange 126 on member 24,Member 29 is preferably provided with outwardly projecting lugs 31 forengagement of a wrench or other tool. Thus by turning collar 29 collars24 and 28 will be drawn together, and this will draw cap 2 downwardly onmember 1 and so prevent separation of members 1 and 2 which would openthe circuit and also insure an electrical'contact between members 18 and7. To gain access to the interior of the device or open a circuitcollar29 may be unscrewed so as to separate it entirely from collar 27 andthereby permit removal of cap 2 from member 1. Member 19'will serve totake up any spark that may occur upon the opening of the circuit, andinasmuch as member 19 is separable from member 17, it may be readilyremoved and; replaced by a new one, when worn or burned away by use. 1 r

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination of outside members one of which is a cap, terminalscarried by said members, contacts detachably connected with saidterminals and adapted to make contact with one another when said outsidemembers are together and means for drawing and holding said outsidemembers together, said contacts being threaded plugs fitted in socketsformed in said terminals.

2. The combination of outside members one of which is a cap, terminalscarried by said members, contacts detachably connected with saidterminals and adapted to make contact with one another when said outsidemembers are together and means for drawing and holding said outsidemembers together, said contacts being threaded plugs fitted in socketsformed in said terminals, and a detachable member carried by one contactand fitting into a recess in the other contact and adapted to take up aspark which may be formed. on separation of the contacts.

3. The combination of outside members one of which is a cap, terminalscarried by said members, contacts detachably connected with saidterminals and adapted to make contact with one another when said outsidemembers are together and means for drawing and holding said outsidemembers together, said contacts being threaded plugs fitted in socketsformed in said terminals, and collars carried by said outside membersand cemented thereto to serve as abutments for said contact members.

4. In a device of the class specified, the combination of an outercasing member, a terminal therein for connection with a conductor, saidterminal having a threaded socket, a contact member provided with athreaded plug, adapted to fit into said threaded socket, said contactmember having a transversely extending contact surface, and an abutmentmember in said outer casing having abutment portions at the side of saidterminal for forming abutments for the projecting portions of saidcontact.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair ofcomplementary insulating casings having bores extending therethrough ofconsiderable diameter at their meeting ends, of annular seats in each ofsaid ends, conductors passing through the casings toward said ends,terminals connected to the adjacent ends of said conductors and havingenlarged disk-like ends, the adjacent surfaces of which contact andtheoverhanging edges of which rest on said annular seats, and a centrallylocated spark absorbing projection on one of said terminals adapted toenter a centrally located recess in the contact surface of the otherterminal.

6. In a device of the class described. the combination with a pair ofcomplementary insulating casings having bores extending therethrough ofconsiderable diameter at their meeting ends, of annular seats in each ofsaid ends, conductors passing through the asings toward said ends,terminals connected to the adjacent ends of said conductors and havingenlarged disk-like ends, the ad jacent surfaces of which contact and theoverhanging edges of which rest on said annular seats, and a centrallylocated spark absorbing projection on one of said tcrminals adapted toenter a centrally located recess in the contact surface of the otherterminal, said projection being removably held in place by screwthreads.

7. In a device of the class desc ibed, the combination with aninsulating cap having a comparatively small bore at one end for theentrance of the cable and a larger bore at the other end for theinsulating body, of said insulating body having its upper end fittinginto the bore of the cap and having the upper part of its boresubstantially as large as the diameter of its upper end will permit, aconductor extending up through the body, a terminal secured thereto andhaving its contact surface consisting of a disk of substantially asgreat a diameter as the bore will accommodate, a conductor extendingdown through the cap, and a terminal secured thereto and having itscontact surface consisting of a disk similar to the other disk withwhich it engages, one of said terminals having a small cylindrical sparkabsorbing plug projecting from its center and the other having acylindrical bore in which it fits when the terminals are broughttogether.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with aninsulating cap having acomparatively small bore at one end tor theentrance of the cable and alarger bore at the other end for theinsulating body, of said insulating body having its upper end fittinginto the bore of the cap and having the upper part of its boresubstantially as large as the diameter of its upper end will permit, aconductor extending up through the body, a terminal secured thereto andhaving its contact surface consisting of a disk of substantially asgreat a diameter as the bore will accommodate, a conductor extendingdown through the cap, and a terminal secured thereto and having itscontact surface consisting of a disk similar to the other disk withwhich it engages, one of said terminals having a small cylindrical sparkabsorbing plug screwed into and projecting from its center and the otherhaving a cylindrical bore in which it fits when the terminals arebrought together.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with aninsulating cap having a comparatively small bore at one end for theentrance of a cable and alarger bore at the other end for the insulatingbody, of said insulating body having its upper end fitting into the boreof the cap and having the upper part of its bore substantially as largeas the diameter of its upper end will permit, a conductor extending uthrough the body, a connection for the con uctor having a threaded end,a terminal screwed into said connection and having its contact surfaceconsisting of a disk of substantially as great a diameter as the borewill accommodate, a conductor extending down through the cap, aconnection for the last mentioned conductor having a threaded end, aterminal for said last mentioned connection screwed thereinto and havingits contact surface consisting of a disk similar to the disk of theother terminal with which it engages.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with aninsulating cap having a comparatively small bore at one end for theentrance of a cable and a larger bore at the a other end for theinsulating body, of said insulating body having its upper end fittinginto the bore of the cap and having the upper part of its boresubstantially as large as the diameter of its upper end will permit, aconductor extending up through the body, a connection for the conductorhaving a threaded end, a terminal screwed into said connection andhaving its contact surface consisting of a disk of substantially asgreat a diameter as the bore will accommodate, a conductor extendingdown through the cap, a connection for the last mentioned conductorhaving a threaded end, a terminal for said last mentioned connectionscrewed thereinto and having its contact surface consisting of a disksimilar to the disk of the other terminal with which it engages, one ofsaid terminals having a small cylindrical spark absorbing plugprojecting from its center and the other having a cylindrical bore inwhich said plug fits when the terminals are brought together.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day ofMay,vA. D. 1922.

PAUL F. WILLIAMS.

